Birmingham City run rule over Nigel Quashie

BIRMINGHAM City are considering a loan move for West Ham United’s Nigel Quashie.

BLUES are considering a loan move for West Ham United’s Nigel Quashie.

The 30-year-old midfielder has been training at Wast Hills, and boss Alex McLeish has also been running the rule over Brazilian schemer Mineiro.

It was hoped that Quashie would figure in tonight’s reserves friendly against Manchester United at St Andrew’s (7pm) but he has a tight hamstring and is unlikely to be risked.

Quashie, a former £1.2 million Albion signing in January 2006, still has two years of his contract to run at the Hammers, but is surplus to requirements.

After the Baggies relegation, he moved to the East End in a £1.75 million deal but didn’t play at all last season because of a foot injury.

The former Scottish international - he was capped by Berti Vogts - has showed up well so far at Blues and McLeish is contemplating whether to take him on a short-term ‘emergency’ loan to boost his options in the middle of the park.

Mineiro, 33, is a free agent after rejecting a new contract at German side Hertha Berlin.

His intelligence and ability on the ball during a practice match last week encouraged McLeish.

His goal against Liverpool in the 2005 World Club Championship won the trophy for São Paulo, whom he had previously helped to the Copa Libertadores de América.

From there he moved to the Bundesliga in January 2007 after earning a late call-up to Brazil’s 2006 World Cup squad when a knee injury ruled out Edmilson, the Barcelona midfielder who would have joined Blues in May but for relegation.